John Cena Returns, Teases WrestleMania London

John Cena made a shocking surprise return at WWE Money in the Bank 2023, and now he’s a huge babyface overseas.

Cena noted this was the first WWE Premium Live Event in London in over 20 years, and was even taken aback by the fact that these fans were singing along to his music, rather than being on the wrong side of “let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chants over the years.

Cena said the decisionmakers in WWE think London is a hostile environment (boo!), London is a distraction (boo!) and they try to take over the show (yay!) Cena then put over the crowd as the heartbeat of the show, promoting even more Cena chants in London, which makes it seem more like bizarro world than ever.

John Cena Teases WrestleMania London

Cena said he returned because he’s big on respect, and fans have earned his respect over the years. He was quickly drowned out with chants of “thank you Cena.” Cena went on to admit there is no audience more exciting than the United Kingdom before dropping the biggest bombshell yet: “I’m here to try to bring WrestleMania to London.”

The O2 Arena exploded in euphoria.

Cena was then interrupted by Grayson Waller, and given Cena’s history of scathing promos against up-and-coming stars, this may not have bode well for the upstart. Waller’s promo was eviscerated by the O2 Arena, which loudly chanted “shut the F up.”

Waller, serving as a conduit to WWE “decision-makers” called out London for booing the babyfaces and cheering the heels. Waller then suggested if WrestleMania needs to go international, it needs to go somewhere like Australia. Waller then tried a call-and-response “Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie” chant, which was answered with boo’s and vile chants of “wanker.”

Despite Cena’s history of recent losses, Waller gave Cena a condescending pep talk, and said all Cena needs is one viral moment. Waller was very poised and seemed in his element as a foreign heel in the United Kingdom. Waller invited Cena to appear on the Grayson Waller Effect at WrestleMania Australia, but Cena passed.

Waller promptly attacked John Cena to a sea of boos, even knocking off Cena’s hat and exposing his vaunted bald spot. Cena came back with an Attitude Adjustment to give the heated segment a happy ending.

A Cena-Waller WrestleMania match would be right up Cena’s alley at this point of his career of putting over rising talent of the current generation, similar to what he did with Austin Theory. It can be argued that Waller—with his gift and gab and natural heel inclinations—is a superior version of Austin Theory, and would benefit much more for a would be victory over John Cena in the future.

But with WrestleMania 40 emanating from Philadelphia, and rumors of WrestleMania 41 rumored to be heading to Minneapolis, it could be years before WWE is able to deliver on a lofty promise of a WrestleMania across the pond.